Dear readers,

A lovely yet unusual winter awaits us this year. Stray cases of dengue way beyond its stipulated period, increase in respiratory ailments across India and unexplained fevers point towards changing times. The impact of climate change as scientists predict, may be perceived resoundingly in the near future resulting in the disappearance of islands, floods and more rains. The threat is real. On the upside, it may not be all that ominous. New lands will be revealed, more wet days will result in resplendent crops, lesser use of air conditioners will cut costs - and more. Although we know that all is not fine and we need to decelerate climate change, dooms day prophesies don’t help. In an inane urge to procure everything that comes with the tag ‘green’ may cloud our power to reason. A case in point may be replacing convention petrol systems with CNG, which does not emit the known pollutants while combustion, but induces ozone production, resulting in another kind of pollution, the effects of which is hitherto unknown. Another example would be the replacement of conventional bulbs with CFL, which without a disposal system can turn its wastes toxic as it contains mercury.

Continuing the same trend, large wind power companies lap up loans offered by the Government, selling its 'green' brand power. Truly, massive use of green energy can save the nation its conventional fuels and thus minimise the emission of carbon into the atmosphere. However, development bereft of social responsibility is faulty. The wind power companies need to stay afloat I agree, and are perhaps not capable of investing in activities that will benefit the local populace. In such a scenario, as with all large agencies that work in the country, certain norms need to be fashioned by the Indian Government to enable a beneficent milieu. It has been our attempt to place before you our study of the Jaisalmer wind farms, in the hope that you will learn to identify and analyse the truth behind ‘green’.

Happy reading.